Culture shock rating

Worried we’re going to shock your senses? Relax! We believe part of the fun of travel is immersing yourself in the destination and its culture, meeting the people, and learning what makes the place tick. We’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The cultural shock rating ranks how different the experience is from most Western cultures. But no matter the level, don’t worry, you’ll have a local, in-the-know guide with you every step of the way.

Low

Consider these tours your 101 intro to a place. Transportation might be private or a very comfortable public option, and the activities are usually visits to iconic sites and locations that are familiar to most Western cultures – but that will still give you fantastic insight into a destination.

Medium

Expect to rough it for parts of this tour, whether that’s on a packed public bus or in a local market off the tourist trail. There might be a few language barriers or unfamiliar cultural customs, and you’ll get an experience different from what you're used to at home.

High

You're out there in the global community! We’re going to take you down streets you’d rarely explore on your own, introduce you to local customs and languages, and take you for a ride in whatever transport is available. Get ready to take it as it comes, whatever comes. There might be a shock, but oh man, it’s worth it.

Low

Physicality

Physical rating

Worried our tours are too tough? Relax! From leisurely strolls to muscle-burning treks, we’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The physical grading gives you an idea of how much huffing and puffing you can expect on the tour.

Low

Slow and steady is all you need here. These tours have very limited physical activity, such as walking relatively flat streets, sites, or markets, and climbing in and out of the transport provided.

Medium

Not too hard, not too soft, these tours are just right! You can expect a bit of physical activity, but nothing overly challenging – perhaps walking up and down hills, riding a bike for up to 30 kilometers along mostly flat terrain, or jumping in a kayak for a gentle paddle on flat water.

High

Get ready for a workout! These tours are our most challenging and involve intense walking, hiking, kayaking, swimming, or bike riding. You could be making steep climbs by foot or pedal, or working your core in the water. We recommend you have a good level of fitness to join this tour.

Low

TOUR SNAPSHOT

“”

Dave was a fantastic enthusiastic knowledgeable guide. The beer lovers tour was like going out worth mates, but with some history thrown in. It was a great start to our stay in Melbourne.

Ms. Robin P., Australia - 23 Jul 2012

Tour snapshot

Get acquainted with bohemian beers, bespoke microbrews and salacious sandwiches on this carb-unfriendly Melbourne walking (or is that stumbling?) tour.

Highlights

Discover the tastes and flavours behind Melbourne’s beer scene

Become the biggest Melbourne beer buff in town

Sip on beers in three different locations, from iconic Melbourne pubs to secret laneway craft beer hotspots

Learn all about Melbourne’s relationship with beer, from the mouths of the locals

Chow down on an iconic local sandwich made from all-Aussie ingredients

Schedule details

Calling all beer fanatics! Looking for the perfect beer tour in Melbourne? You got it. This thirst-quenching beer odyssey will take you through the best of the best on the Melbourne brew scene, from its largest brewery to those craft beers that only the true Melbourne locals know about. On top of all that, you’ll learn all about the history behind Melbourne’s favourite tipple, giving you all the local know-how to become the biggest Melbourne beer buff in town.

Your Melbourne beer tour starts in Melbourne’s up-and-coming neighbourhood of the Smith Street Precinct. Nestled on the border of trendy neighbourhoods Fitzroy and Collingwood, this area is home to some of Melbourne’s best brewers.

After an intro from your guide, you’ll head off to the first pub – no messing about on this tour, you dive right in! Whilst you sip on your first beer, you’ll learn about the rogue settlement of the city, and how the Melbourne beer scene came to be. From the city’s first pub to the outlandish colonial rules governing drinking in the southern capital, this Melbourne tour covers it all.

Your next stop will be a bar specialising in only Aussie-made beers and spirits. This will be the setting of even more local tales about Melbourne’s past, including alcohol bans at football matches and the famous six o’clock swill. Your beer-loving local guide will fill you in on anecdotes like these throughout the tour, so you can really get in touch with Melbourne’s rich history with this beloved drink.

Time to lighten up a bit and head to a venue that is on the precipice of the fast-growing microbrewing movement. Drink beer in full view of the beer makers. This last bar doesn’t just make beer, it also makes gin, coffee and cheese. By now on your Melbourne beer tour, you will have been told all about Melbourne’s strict past, but here you will be able to witness the change and uprising of Melbourne’s unique laneway bar scene. Here you can try some microbrew while learning about the modern era of Melbourne’s relationship with beer. No better setting for that, we’d say!

From here you can carry on your evening with some recommendations from our local guide, or if you’re in too much of a beer/food coma, your guide will also be able to point you in the direction of your accommodation.

Additional information

Dress standard: Please wear nice, smart-casual clothing. No flip-flops (thongs) permitted. Remember that Melbourne’s weather can be unpredictable and the tour will run rain, hail or shine, so bring an umbrella or coat if needed.

Your Trip: This trip is offered on a "join-in" basis. Maximum group size is 12